Ischemic stroke device

Abstract

An ischemic stroke device includes a telescoping support member, a first or proximal expandable member connected to the telescoping support member, and a second or distal expandable member connected to the first expandable member. A proximal portion of the first expandable member is attached to a distal end of an outer shaft of the telescoping support member, and a distal end of the first expandable member is attached to a distal portion of an inner core wire of the telescoping support member. The proximal end of the second expandable member is permanently joined to the distal end of the inner core wire. The first expandable member everts to cover the second expandable member that is used to capture an obstruction or clot, prior to pulling the obstruction or clot into a catheter for removal from a patient's vasculature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel and, more particularly relates to an apparatus and method for removal of at least a portion of an obstruction such as a clot from an obstructed blood vessel for treatment of ischemic stroke.[0002]A common treatment for ischemic stroke is the use of a thrombectomy device to physically remove an obstruction such as a blood clot from the affected artery. One such thrombectomy device typically is advanced through a microcatheter into the vasculature, and is deployed into an obstruction or clot in the vasculature by pulling back on the microcatheter, allowing the thrombectomy device to capture at least a portion of the obstruction or clot, and the thrombectomy device is then retrieved by withdrawing the thrombectomy device into a catheter such as a guide catheter or an intermediate catheter. To prevent the loss of the captured portion of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides for an apparatus and method for removal of at least a portion of an obstruction such as a clot from an obstructed blood vessel for treatment of a condition of a patient's vasculature such as ischemic stroke. The apparatus and method of the invention helps to reduce the risk of losing one or more pieces of an obstruction such as a clot during a thrombectomy procedure by providing a first or proximal expandable member that functions as a cover element that can evert to enfold and enclose a second or distal expandable member used to secure the obstruction or clot prior to pulling the secured obstruction or clot into a catheter for removal from the patient's vasculature. The first or proximal expandable member covers over not only the captured obstruction or clot, but also portions of the obstruction or clot which may be only partially captured, such as a portion of the obstruction stuck to or extending from the outside of the second or distal expandable member, to help to prevent the clot from being scraped off when the clot is pulled into a catheter. The close proximity of the first and second expandable members also allows the captured obstruction or clot to be covered almost immediately, which also can help to reduce the possibility of fragmentation of the obstruction or clot. A telescoping support member connected to the first or proximal expandable member also allows a user to initiate the process of causing the first or proximal expandable member to evert to enfold and enclose the second or distal expandable member used to secure the obstruction or clot.

Problems solved by technology

However, whenever a captured obstruction or clot is retrieved into any type of catheter there is always a risk of some or all of the obstruction or clot being released into a patient's vasculature.

As the thrombectomy device is pulled back into a catheter, some or all of the obstruction or clot may be scraped off, sending one or more pieces of the obstruction or clot downstream to another artery, after which one or more dislodged pieces of the obstruction or clot will then need to be removed, adding to the length of time and complexity of the procedure.

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